Broncos Edged 9-6 By Golden Bears

BERKELEY, Calif. - The Santa Clara baseball team faced a hard-fought loss on the road at California Wednesday afternoon. The Broncos ninth inning rally fell short to yield a final score of 9-6.

The Broncos compiled a solid mid-game rally that scored five of their six runs. Prior to the fifth inning, Santa Clara trailed 9-0. With the win Cal improved to 13-8, while SCU dropped to 10-8.

On the mound, Yasser Clor (3-0) earned the win for the Golden Bears. He tossed 5.1 innings and gave up four of the Broncos runs but only one was earned. The loss went to redshirt freshman Jason Westerberg (0-1). He threw 2.1 innings, walked four and gave up two runs. The save went to Kevin Miller.

Redshirt sophomore Cory Hall, who was one of two relievers for SCU, went 4.2 innings and struck out four. Although two of the fourth innings runs were credited to him, Hall and the Broncos defense held the Golden Bears scoreless for the remaining four innings.

Junior catcher Geoff Klein and senior outfielder Matt Long led SCU at the plate with three hits. Freshman outfielder J.R. Graham scored two runs for the Broncos, while Long and senior outfielder Juan Parra had two RBIs each.

Cal took a 2-0 lead in the third inning but it was in the fourth inning that the Golden Bears took a substantial lead over the Broncos, 9-0. Cal scored seven runs on five hits and one SCU error.

Graham ended the potential shutout as he scored the lone run of the fifth inning. Graham got on base with a standup double that landed deep on the warning track of right centerfield. The Livermore native then advanced to third on a wild pitch and was brought home on a sacrifice fly by Long.

The Broncos loaded the bases in the sixth inning creating their best opportunity of the day. Santa Clara put Patrick Glenn on first, Brady Fuerst on second and Klein on third with two outs on the board. Klein then scored as Graham reached on an error by the Golden Bears' third baseman Michael Brady. The bases remained full and with a single through the right side from Parra, Fuerst and Glenn scored. The final run of the inning was brought home by centerfielder Long, who singled up the middle to plate Graham. The Broncos trailed 9-5.

Santa Clara had the chance to tie the game in the ninth inning. Second baseman David Abraham walked to get on base and then advanced to third on a base hit from Klein. He scored on a Fuerst single to make the score 9-6. With runners on first and second, the Broncos had the game-tying runner at the plate. However a fly out and a line out brought the inning and the game to a close.

SCU begins West Coast Conference play this weekend against Loyola Marymount. The Broncos and Lions begin the three-game series on Friday, Mar. 27 at 7 p.m. The series continues on Saturday, Mar. 28 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Mar. 29 at 1 p.m. All three games will be played at Schott Stadium.